Chapter 808: The Inside Traitor
Chapter 808: The Inside Traitor
Moreover, there was another matter that Mo Hua was concerned about.
During a break between classes, under the shade of a large tree on Refining Demon Mountain.
Mo Hua looked around discreetly and, seeing that they were alone, lowered his voice and asked, "Does the fact that the two of you were captured by Wanyao Valley imply that there is... an inside traitor in your sect?"
Mo Hua paused, lowering his voice even further, "...among your ranks?"
Ling Hu Xiao and Ouyang Mu exchanged complicated glances.
After a moment, Ling Hu Xiao also whispered, "Elder Shangguan instructed me not to talk about it to others, but..."
But Mo Hua was no outsider.
Furthermore, Mo Hua was already well-informed about the affairs of Wanyao Valley.
Ling Hu Xiao continued, "Elder Shangguan suspects that within our sect, there are some disciples, perhaps even elders, who are secretly colluding with other sects and selling out their fellow disciples."
"He has reported this to the Ancestor, and the Ancestor is furious. The Chongxu Sect will conduct a discreet investigation, and I was told to keep this matter confidential."
Mo Hua nodded.
It was difficult to determine the exact situation at the moment.
It was possible that there was a complete traitor within the Chongxu Sect, betraying the sect for personal gain.
It was also possible that due to Ling Hu Xiao's exceptional talent, some of the older elders were jealous and wary, and thus sold information about him, hoping to use others' hands to eliminate this extraordinarily talented sword cultivator.
If Ling Hu Xiao were to grow up and become the sole leader, it would naturally be a good thing for the Chongxu Sect.
However, sometimes, the interests of the sect did not align with those of certain elders.
Some people only wanted to leech off the sect for their own benefit.
Whether the sect became stronger or not did not matter to them; if the sect declined, they would simply switch to another power and continue their parasitic ways.
Mo Hua then turned to Ouyang Mu.
Ouyang Mu looked rather dazed.
"That day, I truly knew nothing..."
"I was meditating in the disciples' residence and felt a bit sleepy, so I took a nap. When I woke up, I found myself in Wanyao Valley."
"Before that, did you come into contact with any suspicious people?" Mo Hua asked.
Ouyang Mu thought for a moment and shook his head.
"Have you taken any pills?"
"Yes," Ouyang Mu nodded. "But they were just regular cultivation pills like Peiyuan Pills and Juling Pills."
Mo Hua frowned slightly, suddenly remembering something. "Were those pills yours?"
"Some of them were mine, but some..." Ouyang Mu thought for a moment and suddenly paused, "were given to me by Brother Ma..."
Mo Hua's eyes narrowed.
So it was him...
That day, he had seen that Brother Ma from Taihe Sect walking with Xiao Mumu at the foot of the mountain, saying that he was entrusted by Ouyang Feng to deliver some cultivation pills, spiritual tools, and jade slips to Xiao Mumu.
At that time, he had felt that this "Brother Ma" exuded a subtle air of evil.
Initially, he had thought that it might be something that the person had unintentionally picked up.
Now it seemed that this Brother Ma was likely to be the problem.
"What about those pills?" Mo Hua asked.
"I gave them all to my brother," Ouyang Mu replied.
"Brother Feng?"
"Mm," Ouyang Mu answered, "After I returned from Wanyao Valley, my brother came to my room and took away some things, saying that he wanted to examine them."
Mo Hua nodded.
Brother Feng was mature and thoughtful, with a keen mind. It seemed that he had also sensed something amiss.
Since that was the case, it wouldn't be appropriate for him to get involved.
Moreover, this was an internal matter of the Taihe Sect and the Chongxu Sect, and it had nothing to do with him, a mere minor disciple of the Tai Xu Sect. After all, he wasn't a junior brother of the Taihe Sect or the Chongxu Sect.
After class, the disciples would be free to hunt for demons.
Ouyang Mu was introverted and didn't have a close relationship with his fellow sect members.
Ling Hu Xiao was aloof and didn't mingle well with others either.
As a result, this direct descendant of the Taihe Sect and the pride of the Chongxu Sect ended up getting along with the disciples of the Tai Xu Sect.
The elders of the Taihe Sect and the Chongxu Sect could only sigh and feel helpless when they saw this.
...
In the following days, Mo Hua unexpectedly ran into Song Jian on Refining Demon Mountain.
This was the first time Mo Hua had seen Song Jian since the Wanyao Valley incident.
Song Jian hadn't changed much. He wore a golden Danjimen robe, carried a precious spiritual sword, had fair skin, and looked like a little white face.
What had changed was his entourage.
In these turbulent times, the Danjimen had undergone a change in power.
After the Wanyao Valley incident, the Jin family stepped down, and the Song family rose to power. They began to reshuffle the deck, marginalizing the Jin family cultivators and promoting their own faction, gradually gaining control over the Danjimen.
With the decline of the Jin family, the Song family was now in a completely different position.
And Song Jian, as the core direct descendant of the Song family and a "meritorious descendant" in the Wanyao Valley disturbance, was naturally favored.
Now, when he went out, the number of his entourage was almost twice what it used to be.
Even some of the Jin family's side branches, in order to survive, willingly became his "followers," flattering him endlessly.
Song Jian was now very imposing when he went out.
However, upon seeing Mo Hua, Song Jian's imposing manner subsided a little, and his expression became complicated, as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself several times.
"Mo..."
Before he could speak, other Danjimen disciples sneered,
"That Tai Xu Sect brat in front is blocking our Young Master's way! How dare he be so rude!"
"Indeed, if he doesn't get out of the way soon, we'll make him regret it..."
"Get out of the way, now!"
Song Jian's followers shouted arrogantly.
Mo Hua's expression was subtle.
The Tai Xu Sect had broken the Wanyao Valley, causing the Jin family to fall from power and the Song family to rise.
But the Song family's attitude towards the Tai Xu Sect seemed to be no different from that of the Jin family.
Not only was this true for the upper echelons of the Danjimen, but the ordinary disciples also shared this sentiment.
Moreover, they had been causing trouble on Refining Demon Mountain, and almost all of them had been beaten up by the Tai Xu Sect disciples who were "fully armed" with formation techniques. As a result, they held a grudge against the Tai Xu Sect.
When they saw Mo Hua wearing the Tai Xu Sect robe, they naturally gave him hostile looks.
However, they didn't know who Mo Hua was.
Mo Hua stayed behind the scenes and rarely showed his face.
Therefore, these Danjimen disciples didn't know that the "mastermind" behind their losses at the hands of the Tai Xu Sect was this young cultivator standing before them.
When they met him now, they only saw him as a minor disciple of the Tai Xu Sect and spoke to him rudely.
Mo Hua didn't have a very good temper either.
He had beaten up disciples of the Danjimen before.
Just as he was considering whether to call for someone to teach these Danjimen disciples with their poor vision a lesson.
Song Jian suddenly said, "Mo Hua!"
He drew his sword and pointed it at Mo Hua, sneering, "Back then, you offended me and destroyed the sword embryo that I had nurtured for eighteen years to forge my natal magic treasure. I remember that debt clearly, and today I will repay that sword debt!"
His lackeys chimed in,
"Young Master, there's no need for you to take action personally to deal with such a minor character!
Song Jian, in a dispirited tone, replied, "How can I fight when I know I can't defeat you?"
Prior to his encounter in the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons, he had harbored a modicum of arrogance, confident in his ability to best Mo Hua and avenge his shattered sword embryo. But now, all traces of that arrogance had faded.
"I simply can't win," he admitted. "Even if I were to engage in combat, I doubt I'd even know where you are."
Moreover, during their time in the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons, Mo Hua had saved his life...
Song Jian hesitated momentarily before mustering the courage to utter, in a barely audible voice, "Thank... thank you..."
"For what?" Mo Hua questioned, his curiosity piqued.
"Thank you!" Song Jian snapped, his embarrassment transforming into anger.
"Oh..." Mo Hua nodded in acknowledgment. "So, you sought me out to express your gratitude for saving your life in the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons?"
"Something like that..." Song Jian's expression fluctuated as he lapsed into silence once more.
Mo Hua, adept at reading others, noticed the turmoil in Song Jian's eyes and, driven by an inexplicable impulse, felt compelled to offer his assistance. "Do you have something on your mind? You can share it with me if you wish. While I may not be able to help directly, I can certainly offer some advice."
Initially, Song Jian had no intention of confiding in anyone, but as he lifted his gaze to meet Mo Hua's, he beheld the purity and depth reflected in those eyes. It was as if, in that moment, he found someone he could trust implicitly.
Especially when it came to matters concerning the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons...
Song Jian's countenance grew desolate as he slowly confided, "I've realized that my parents don't truly care about my life or death..."
Mo Hua was taken aback by this revelation. "Why would you say that?"
"In the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons, when I lost a pinky finger and sent it to them, there was no response whatsoever," Song Jian explained. "Jin Gui told me that they were weighing the pros and cons, deliberating whether it was worth rescuing me. If the cost was too high, they would rather let me perish, shed a few tears, and move on. After all, the Song family has more than just me as their offspring."
"I didn't believe Jin Gui's words at first..." Song Jian continued, his voice tinged with bitterness. "But when I returned from the valley, I noticed that while my parents were pleased to see me, their reaction wasn't as ecstatic as I had imagined it would be."
"They were indeed aware of my predicament in the valley, yet they took no action," he added. "Even the Song family elders seemed to have made calculations of their own, ultimately treating me as if I were..."
Song Jian's face contorted with anguish as he spat out the words, "...a disposable pawn."
"A pawn?" Mo Hua echoed, surprised by this revelation.
"Yeah," Song Jian mumbled. "They're plotting something, and my parents are benefiting from it, so they don't really care whether I live or die."
"My return seems to have been more of a pleasant surprise to them, and perhaps..." Song Jian's eyes turned icy, "...I'm more like an 'extra gift' to them."
Mo Hua's brow furrowed as he listened. He had heard tales of the ruthless calculus and indifference that governed the inner workings of prominent families, but he had never expected it to apply to Song Jian's situation.
"How many siblings do you have?" Mo Hua asked, seeking to understand the dynamics of the Song family.
"I have two older brothers," Song Jian replied. "I'm the youngest, but my talent pales in comparison to theirs. I'm not as diligent in my cultivation, nor am I as ruthless in my actions."
Song Jian gestured toward the forest's edge and continued, "Moreover, I'm not very good at commanding respect from others."
"Now that the Song family has risen to power, I find myself surrounded by hangers-on whom I can't seem to shake off," he admitted. "Deep down, I know they look down on me."
These realizations had come to him during his harrowing journey through the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons, where the constant threat of death had forced him to confront the truth about his life.
"In this world, no one can be relied upon," Song Jian declared. "Not the sect, not my family, not my parents or brothers, and certainly not those sycophants."
His expression betrayed a sense of bewilderment as he grappled with the harsh reality of his situation.
Mo Hua contemplated Song Jian's words before placing a comforting hand on his shoulder and offering a simple yet profound piece of advice: "So, you can only rely on yourself."
Song Jian stared at Mo Hua, feeling that this statement was out of place.
Why would you, a disciple of the Tai Xu Sect with no relation to me, suddenly offer to help me, a disciple of the Duan Jin Men?
Mo Hua continued, "Didn't I save your life?"
Song Jian nodded reluctantly, "I suppose so..."
"So, don't we share a bond of life and death?"
"Y-yes..." Song Jian hesitated.
"Then what's the problem?" Mo Hua asked, "The path to immortality is long and arduous, and it's crucial to have like-minded companions who can help each other and share mutual benefits!"
"I saved your life, and you still don't trust me?"
Song Jian hesitated, "But... we're still from different factions."
"What does that matter?" Mo Hua asked, confused, "You're not the leader of the Duan Jin Men, just an ordinary disciple. Why get worked up about it?"
"But I'm still from the Song family... ultimately, I'm a disciple of the Duan Jin Men," Song Jian argued.
Before he could finish, Mo Hua sighed, "And what does that have to do with you?"
"You're a disciple of the Song family, but when it really matters, they'll sacrifice you for their benefit. Didn't you say that your family can't be relied on? Your parents have three sons, and they can't treat all of you equally. They'll always consider their own interests first."
"So, why worry yourself unnecessarily?"
Song Jian was left bewildered by Mo Hua's words.
"But, you destroyed my natal sword embryo..." Song Jian said.
Mo Hua waved it off, "A mere natal sword embryo..."
"How dare you call it mere?" Song Jian snapped angrily, "That sword embryo has been with me since I started my sword cultivation. I've nurtured it for eighteen years, never parting with it! Eighteen years!"
The more Song Jian thought about it, the angrier he became, and his heart ached.
Mo Hua sighed again and countered, "What is the ultimate pursuit of us cultivators?"
Song Jian was taken aback by the question and hesitated before answering, "Immortality?"
"Yes! Immortality!" Mo Hua affirmed, "And how long is immortality?"
Song Jian frowned, "Once we achieve immortality, we'll live as long as heaven and earth. Why would we care about a mere eighteen years?"
"Exactly!" Mo Hua continued, "So, your ultimate goal is immortality, to live as long as heaven and earth, to exist for countless millennia. Why hold on to the grudge of losing a sword embryo after eighteen years?"
Song Jian was left speechless.
Mo Hua's words seemed to make sense...
Since his goal was to achieve immortality and live forever, what were eighteen years in the grand scheme of things? Why bother holding a grudge?
Mo Hua patted Song Jian's shoulder, "So, broaden your horizons and don't fret over momentary gains and losses. Otherwise, your mindset will be too narrow to reach the pinnacle of the Dao..."
Song Jian nodded involuntarily.
However, he still had his concerns, "You mentioned helping each other, but how exactly? I won't betray my family or the Duan Jin Men."
"I'm not asking you to betray anyone..." Mo Hua explained, "Just share some information with me. If you need help, I'll be there for you. We can cooperate behind the scenes while maintaining our rivalry in public."
"This way, we both have a backup plan and an extra path to survive."
"What do you think?"
Song Jian thought about it and felt that Mo Hua's proposal was quite reasonable.
Asking him to betray his family or sect was out of the question.
However, secretly gaining a powerful ally was undeniably beneficial.
The events of the Demon Subduing Mountain flashed through Song Jian's mind once more.
He couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Among cultivators of the same level, Mo Hua was exceptionally strong...
Not in terms of raw power, but in his unpredictability and uncanny abilities.
He was an enigma.
If Mo Hua were his enemy, Song Jian wouldn't feel confident at all.
But as an "ally," he felt much more at ease.
"Alright..."
Song Jian nodded silently, feeling a weight lift from his shoulders.
Mo Hua was about to say something more when he heard someone calling his name from outside the forest. He said, "Remember, if you need anything, come find me at Demon Refining Mountain."
"Okay," Song Jian replied.
Mo Hua then cast a few fireball spells into the empty space.
Song Jian was taken aback for a moment before understanding and using his spiritual power to slash at the nearby trees, creating the scene of a fierce battle.
The two of them then walked out of the forest, one after the other, each on guard.
Outside the forest, Cheng Mo and Si Tu Jian, along with a few others, were calling out Mo Hua's name while facing off against the disciples of the Duan Jin Men.
Seeing Mo Hua unharmed, Cheng Mo and the others breathed a sigh of relief.
Mo Hua wiped nonexistent sweat from his forehead and pointed at Song Jian, sneering, "You little pretty boy, next time we meet, I'll make you pay!"
Song Jian was taken aback, but he quickly sneered back, "It was just luck this time. If we meet again, I'll tear you to pieces!"
He then huffed coldly and swaggered away.
Cheng Mo couldn't stand his attitude and angrily said, "You little punk, how dare you be so arrogant? Watch me teach you a lesson!"
"Alright, alright," Mo Hua stopped him, "It's getting late, let's head back."
"Little Brother, are you alright?" Si Tu Jian asked.
"Of course, what could possibly happen to me on Demon Refining Mountain?" Mo Hua replied.
Si Tu Jian thought for a moment and nodded, "That's true."
The two groups then parted ways.
The mountain forest returned to its peaceful state.
Only Mo Hua and Song Jian knew of the secret agreement they had made.
Since this happened during the "class" conducted by Elder Xun Zi You, the elder wasn't keeping a close eye on Mo Hua, so he remained unaware of this development.
On their way back, Mo Hua thought to himself:
"There's an insider in the Grand Unity Sect, the Purity Sect, and now, effectively, in the Broken Void Sect as well."
And this one was planted by me.
The better Song Jian does, the easier things will be for me in the future.
"What if, one day, he becomes an elder or even the leader of the sect? That would be fantastic..."
As this thought crossed his mind, Mo Hua paused, suddenly struck by a realization, "Could this Song Jian become the leader of the Broken Void Sect in the future...?"
(End of Chapter)
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